Which place is cheaper, Lofoten Islands or Gothenburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Gothenburg or Lofoten Islands?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Gothenburg or Lofoten Islands? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Gothenburg or Lofoten Islands?
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
Lofoten Islands
Lofoten Islands is an archipelago and traditional district in Norway. Lofoten is known for excellent fishing, spectacular nature attractions such as the northern lights and the midnight sun, and small villages off the beaten track. The Lofoten Islands are draped across the turbulent waters of the Norwegian Sea, far above the Arctic Circle. Kayak between the islands, go fishing for the catch of your life, or look for sea eagles soaring in the sky. If you are seeking unforgettable nature experiences, Lofoten will definitely not let you down.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Sweden, The Best Contiki Tours to Norway, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Oslo.
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Gothenburg Prices
Sweden PricesLofoten Islands Prices
Norway Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGothenburg $145Lofoten Islands $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $145, while the average daily cost in Lofoten Islands is $86. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Gothenburg and Lofoten Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGothenburg $46Lofoten Islands $7.83
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGothenburg $92Lofoten Islands $16
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and Lofoten Islands
Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg or Lofoten Islands? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Gothenburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Gothenburg $21Lofoten Islands $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $17
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $17
- Umea Private Transfer from Umea city centre to Umea airport: $71
- Gothenburg Airport: Transfer to City center of Gothenburg: $74
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $80
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Arrival Private Transfer: $108
- Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $108
- Ostersund Private Transfer from Ostersund (OSD) airport to central Ostersund: $115
- City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $128
- Airport Transfer: Gothenburg to Airport GOT by Business Car: $132
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $162
Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or Lofoten Islands?
Prices for flights to both Lofoten Islands and Gothenburg change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayGothenburg $76Lofoten Islands $65
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lofoten Islands
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lofoten Islands.
- Skrova Flavours 3 course Dinner Experience: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Gothenburg $18Lofoten Islands $27
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Self Guided Tour in Gothenburg: $3.58
- Eila's Time Travels: A Lycksele Family Walking Tour Game: $8.59
- Headless Horseman in Self-Guided Ghost Tour Game: $8.63
- Alfie Atkins Cultural Centre Admission Ticket: $15
- Old Town Sightseeing Tour: $16
- Gothenburg Old Town Sightseeing Tour: $16
- World of Volvo Exhibition Entry Ticket: $19
- Universeum Entry Ticket: $24
- Gothenburg Universeum Ticket - Aquarium, Science, Wildlife, Zoo: $25
- City Canal Sightseeing Cruise: $28
- Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $36
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $36
Tours and Activities in Lofoten Islands
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lofoten Islands are as follows:
- Afternoon Kayaking Adventure in Lofoten: $113
- First Time Diver Scuba Experience: $205
- Half Day Snowshoe Tour: $102
- Lofoten Grand Canyon Snorkeling Tour: $163
- Guided Snowshoeing Tour - Easy version: $134
- Guided Snowshoeing Tour - Uphill version : $134
- Lofoten Unique Snorkeling Experience in Dry Suit: $163
- SUP Adventure - Guided Tour in the Lofoten Islands: $128
- Sadhana Morning Yoga - An Adventure of Awareness: $25
- Small-Group Cultural Walking Tour of Skrova: $36
- Special Summer Cruise Bus Tour of Lofoten: $139
- Unique Scuba Diving Experience: $205
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGothenburg $24Lofoten Islands $0.79
Sample the Local Flavors in Gothenburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Gothenburg:
- Guided Brewery Tour on Bicycle: $66
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gothenburg and Lofoten Islands, we can see that Gothenburg is more expensive. And not only is Lofoten Islands much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lofoten Islands would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lofoten Islands and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Gothenburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gothenburg than you might in Lofoten Islands.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Gothenburg Expensive? and Is Lofoten Islands Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.